May 3rd, 2010 - THE END…of a Chapter of “Russell’s Big to Smaller Adventure”
WOW! What an experience from the beginning to the end this has been for me! I have learned SO MUCH about myself during these past 90 days! I feel so blessed to have been selected as participant in Bert’s Big Adventure Healthe Trim Weight Loss Challenge, and I can’t wait to see how much money we’ve raised for charity this Thursday AM when we have our final weigh in at the station. At first, I was so focused on “losing weight for charity”, but as I started seeing the pounds come off, I became more focused on “losing weight for me & making a lifestyle change”, because the end of the contest seemed so far away. Now the end is here!! I can’t tell you how exciting it has been to lose weight, make a LIFESTYLE change, and know that in just a few days, all my hard work and efforts are going to benefit families with children with a terminal or chronic illness.
I remember how excited I was when I was notified that I had been chosen to be a contestant in the contest. I was apprehensive as to whether or not this touted “miracle drug” really worked, and would it work for me. After learning about it, and trying it out, I realized that it did work for me, and that this could really be a changing point in my life. I took the bull by the horns, and gave this diet & program a level commitment & focus that I had almost forgotten I was capable of. However, to make it to where I am now required a 180 degree change in my culinary and lifestyle habits, and I could have never made it without help from friends, family, my new friends doing the HT Weight Loss Challenge with me, & Idella at Forever Fit. I knew that changing 21+ years of bad habits was going to be tough, but with the money for the kids on the line, it really helped me shut that pantry or refrigerator door when my mind was telling me that “Just this once won’t hurt anything”. I can honestly say that I haven’t had a coke, cup of coffee, a full beer (I did take a few sips along the way), or any kind of “junk food” since I started this diet. That to me, is such a victory in itself. I have come a long ways from who I was before just 90 short days ago!
I am so thankful to everyone at Healthe Trim who would answer any questions about the product, make suggestions, and send out more product when I ran out. I also want to thank my neighbors who would encourage me when they saw me out running, or would give me compliments on how I was looking skinnier since the last time we’d seen each other. It was the words of encouragement from my friends & family that made me sticking it out through “snack attacks” worth it. It got to the point where it was almost fun to go a week or two without seeing someone, and then seeing the reaction on their face, and hearing their words of disbelief & encouragement the next time I ran into them. I also want to say a special thank you to my friends that would work out with me & Trey at X3 Sports in Inman Park, who graciously allowed me to come and take a few free kickboxing lessons. I can’t forget to thank Idella at Forever Fit Gym in Buckhead. She brings SO MUCH MORE to your workout than just the physical aspect. Idella helped to remind me that “We will do what we tell ourselves we can/can’t do”, and that our thoughts & mental frame of mind really determine what we can do in our lives. I want to also thank my family for their support & encouragement through this time. I hope that maybe I’ve encouraged you to start making a change in your lives as well. Last but not least, I want to especially thank my little sister, Stephanie, for encouraging me to sign up for this when I had my doubts, for helping me make it through some of my temptations, but most of all, for being the first in our immediate family to “live the example” of a healthy life. I hope that we can get mom and dad to follow in our footsteps.
I don’t think I’ll be in the running for any of the prize money, but that’s okay, because I started this whole program with the attitude of earning money for the kids with Bert’s Big Adventure, and losing weight for myself. I am so happy to have succeeded at both, and I can’t tell you what a sense of accomplishment I feel from overcoming bad habits & learning how to live a better lifestyle. I am still single & still unemployed, but I have a new attitude, a new look, and a new sense of “mission accomplished, what’s next!?!” propelling me into this new chapter in my life! Basically, I got my Mojo back!!! ;)
I want to encourage those of you that are reading this, or maybe heard us talking about our experiences on the radio, that are looking to make a change your lives to realize that YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO!!! If you don’t believe me, take a look at the ten average people that started this program 90 days ago, and look who we’ve become!! You, and you alone, hold the power necessary to make a change in your life. If you know you’re capable of being or doing more with your life, then make the decision that there is no time like the present to make that change. You’ll be amazed at how, after a few victories, success becomes addictive, and challenges will become easier to overcome. See yourself across the victory line, and stay focused on that image as you work towards achieving your goal. I wish you the best of luck, and thanks again to Q100 & Healthe Trim for helping me find myself again!!
April 26th, 2010 - Who Have I Become?
The end of the contest is approaching quickly, and I am pleasantly shocked at all the changes that I have gone through during this process. It seems like so long ago, but then again, only yesterday, that we started The Healthe Trim Weight Loss Challenge. I honestly didn’t have a clue as to whether or not this would work for me, and could I really lose weight & be a better person at the end of the contest. Now, with less than two weeks left, all I can say is “WOW”, and I can’t believe who I’ve become!!! I got some new running shoes this week, and it has made running fun again. I ran over 6 miles this week for the first time that I can remember. I’m not running on a treadmill either, I am incorporating hills (this is Atlanta, right?) into my runs, and I am LOVING having defined leg & calf muscles again. I have hit another plateau with my weight, but this time, I know what pushes me over the edge to start losing weight again, CHANGE!!!!
This past Friday, my good friend Jenny invited me to her Kickboxing class at X3 Sports in Inman Park. She told me that all the instructors are professional Extreme Fighters, and to prepare for a workout that will rock my world! Let me just tell you…she was right!!! I have never had so much fun while working out at a gym. I got there early, and Trey (one of the managers) made me feel very welcome, and explained what I would be doing, along with giving me a tour of their awesome facilities. He then taped up my hands, and gave me a pair of boxing gloves, and we went down to watch the end of the class in front of me. I could see a bunch of worn out people wrapping up their exercises, and was thinking that this must be an advanced class wrapping up. I would soon find out different!
Trey introduced me to my instructor, Steven, and told me to have fun & that he would check on me at the end of the workout to see what I thought about it. I’m not going to lie, I was a little apprehensive since I’ve never taken a boxing class in my life. I think that Steven picked up my apprehension, and gave me reassurance that he would take the time to make sure that I learned the proper technique to what everyone was doing, and he told me not to worry, just do the best I can do, and then do a little more. I liked that! The class started with stretches, and then we went into some cardio exercises. Next came the heart of the course. We were punching (left jab, right cross, left hook, right hook, & uppercut) with our arms and kicking (Roundhouse, knee kick, foot kick) with our legs in segments that Steven would call out. I think the hardest part for me was getting the sequence of which punch/kick to throw in the correct order. He totally picked up on my frustration, and came over and helped me learn the proper technique, and told me not to sweat it, that I would get it down soon enough. In between repetitions on the bags, we would do cardio or balance workouts. By the end of the class, Steven was right, I was getting the technique along with the order down pat, and could really feel the intensity of this workout.
Just when I thought I was totally out of gas, he told us to get on the mats, and we worked on abs for about 5-10 minutes, which felt like an eternity to me. By the end of the workout, my shirt was so soaked, it looked like I had been standing out in a downpour for about 5 minutes. Trey asked me my thoughts about the workout, and I told him that I had never experienced anything like it, and that I have a whole new respect & understanding for those that take kickboxing classes. When I got home, I felt so “accomplished & revved up” that I knew I was addicted, and can’t wait to go again. My friend Jenny, also told me later that she was impressed with the fact that I was able to make it throughout the whole workout without having to sit out a segment. I didn’t really think about that until later, and then I just thought about “who I’ve become” since starting this Healthe Trim Weight Loss Challenge. I can’t express my thanks to Matthew, Amiel(sp?, sorry brother), Gary, Donna D, Kristen, and the rest of the team at HT that have help to make this possible for me!
Kickboxing was on Friday afternoon, and our Burt’s Big Adventure Healthe Trim Weight Loss Challenge Team Workout with Idella & Monique at Forever Fit is on Saturday AM. Going to bed on Friday, I honestly didn’t think I would be able to move the next morning, much less go to the gym to work out again. However, with the money at stake now, it was an incentive to get my butt out of bed and go to the gym. The whole way there, I was sore & couldn’t believe I was going for more punishment, but I am SO glad that I did!! Upon arrival, I told Idella that I had done kickboxing the night before, and asked her to go easy on me today, and she just gave me that smile that she’ll give you, and I knew then & there, that there was not much mercy going to be bestowed upon the weary. Again, what was I thinking?!? She did say that she did notice that while I was getting out of my car, & walking into the gym gingerly, and she could tell something was up. For the record, Idella nor Monique will make us do anything that could hurt us, but they are professionals at challenging you to give one more repetition when you thought you didn’t have it in you.
I was into my workout, and griping about how sore I was, but still going along and doing what was instructed. Idella pulled me aside at some point, and did what she does best, she challenged me. I swear, it’s worth getting up on Saturday mornings, passing 5+ gyms on the way to Forever Fit, and working out, in order just to get one of Idella’s “pep talks”. She reminded me of the fact that in order to reach a goal that you have to picture yourself on the other side of the Finish Line. Don’t focus on the trials & tribulations of the journey, but focus on the rewards reaped once accomplishing that goal. One other area that she has really been such a blessing in my life, is reminding me that there is only ONE person in charge of my future, and that’s myself. I am currently unemployed and looking for a job, and all I can tell you is that this experience happened for a reason in my life. I am a TOTALLY different person than I was when I first started this program!!! I want to mention a special thank you to Idella for helping me realize that I am the one in charge of achieving my goals.
I’ve got 11 days left on the “official journey”, but my real journey has been redirected, path lit, and I am well charged and prepared to run down the road of life! I can’t express my gratitude in words for what this journey has meant to me!! I’ve now got to focus on the finish, and see myself on the other side of that finish line the better person that I’ve become!!!!
April 19th, 2010 - Feeling Great!!!
Ok, so last week, I sent out a challenge to you! I hope that maybe it caused enough of a stir from within to make you think about making a change in your life. I had a little bit of disappointment this week when I found out that I’ve lost 33.5lbs vs the 40lbs I thought that I had lost. I thought my original starting weight was 235, but it turns out it’s really 228.5. But still, that’s 33.5 lbs shed in less than 3 months!! Life will continue to throw hurdles and road blocks at me, but with my “new found self”, I can overcome these obstacles with the lessons I’ve learned & tools that I’ve gained in this short time period since the beginning of this contest.
I’ve incorporated running on just about a daily basis. I also ran with a neighbor last week, and he challenged me during our run to “keep going just a little further”. I had on a Pedometer, and when we got back, I realized that we had run 5.35 miles!!! I was so excited for being able to go that far for the first time in such a long time!! This whole Bert’s Big Adventure Healthe Trim Weight Loss Challenge has taught me so much about how to make changes in daily routines in order to make changes in your life!
I can see the finish line coming up pretty soon, and I’ve got to step it up because my weight is not dropping as much, but I can definitely see the muscle that I am putting on my body. One thing that I’ve learned throughout this process is not to “get comfortable” with my progress. Sounds crazy, right? What I mean is, once I reach a goal & can hit it comfortably, it’s time to raise the bar again. My body does it for me automatically by plateauing at a certain weight until I change up a few things on my diet & exercise routine. There’s nothing like reaching a goal, conquering it, and then moving on to the next goal!!! I hope that those of you who are like the “old me” (nay sayers; those wanting to make a change about their appearance, but not wanting to do anything about it; those who think “people will just have to accept me for who I am, I’m not changing!”; & those afraid of failing yet once again) can gain the inspiration to get started on the incredible & rewarding journey of “claiming their life back”. You’ll be amazed at how many people will come out of the woodwork in order to help support you along your journey! You’ll be so glad you did!!!
April 12th, 2010 - TIME FOR A CHANGE-
Okay, we’re within the last month of the contest, and even though I’m doing great on my diet, and not giving in to temptation, I am seeing my downward trend on the scales slow down. So after speaking with a few friends that have had success with losing weight, and working out, I realized that I had to change things up a bit with my diet & workout routine. I’ve incorporated running everyday into my routine, and changing up my diet a little. I want to also take this time also want to say a “thank you” to everyone who continues to send encouraging words via facebook and other ways. I really appreciate you taking a moment of your day just to send a positive message, it really helps me keep focused on the goal when I have a moment of weakness.
When I first started this program, I couldn’t run three blocks (granted they were all up a sloping hill, and HUGE city blocks) without having to stop to catch my breath. Now I’m running a route of 2 -3 miles non-stop, except if Zeus (my 103lb Red Doberman/Lab mix dog) yanks me to a stop because he has “to go”. I am loving the ability to complete a circuit in my neighborhood, but the best thing is the “high” that I get from running that’ll last me throughout the evening. I am beginning to see calf & leg muscles come out from “hiding”, and redefine the shape of my legs.
I’ve had a few of you contact me and ask “does Healthe Trim really work?”. Also, I’ve been told by a few friends that they’ve ordered it, and haven’t seen the same results that the people on the radio have experienced. So here’s the “skinny” (sorry it was too easy) on my experience with Healthe Trim. Oh, and before you read further, I want you to keep in mind that I’m not paid to sell the product, nor is their any personal gain for me if you order the product or not. In other words, I’m going to shoot straight with you.
Does HEALTHE TRIM really work? YES, it really does work… as long as you follow the rules and recommendations. People, this isn’t a “magic pill” that once you take it, you’ll get skinny overnight. To be honest, that’s a good thing, because if there was a pill that could do that, I would be really concerned about the side effects it could have on your body. This is the formula that I used to make Healthe Trim work for me (Per recommendation from the team at Healthe Trim):
- TONS OF WATER!!!! I drink 6-8, 32oz bottles of water a day. I have a Brita Pitcher that I keep filled, and it really does help with the taste of water (for those of you that don’t like it). No, you can’t add Crystal Lite to the water. It’ll have the opposite effect with HT (HT=’s Healthe Trim), and you will not lose weight. Water is the lifeblood of the human body, and by flushing your system regularly, you’re helping your body run at it’s best capacity.
- NO CAFFIENE!!!!!!!!!! I imagine you might be telling yourself, “That’s it!!! Not doing this diet if I can’t have coffee or Cokes.” YOU WON’T NEED CAFFIENE WITH HT!!! There is Green Tea extract and other herbal tricks in the HT that’ll give you more energy than any pot of coffee or 6 pack of Cokes could give you!! I drank 3-4 Coke Zero’s a day, and I honestly had a hard time not drinking them at first, but it REALLY only took 3-4 days to get over my craving for the way Cokes. One thing I love about the energy boost with HT, is that it doesn’t give you a “rollercoaster ride” of energy, it’s very even in its effect.
- HIGH PROTEIN – LOW CARB DIET: HT is going to raise your metabolism, and works best with a high protein diet. Once I incorporated Protein Shakes with my HT, I really saw a difference in how the pounds were coming off! It was tough cutting out chips, beer, and regular bread for me, but in order for me to make a change in my life, I’ve got to make a change in my lifestyle!!
- EXERCISE: At first, I wasn’t exercising, and lost almost 20lbs, but then my weight loss really slowed down, until I started exercising. You don’t have to run or join a gym. Just start by walking a ½ mile everyday when you get home from work. Increase it to ¾ mile the next few days, and do a mile by the end of the second week. TRUST ME, YOU’LL WANT TO DO MORE by the end of the second week. Quit laughing!!!! I’m serious!! I know you were laughing, because I would have been doing the same before I started this.
These are the key ingredients into helping Healthe Trim work for me to its potential. It took me making a few changes in my lifestyle, that were greatly aided by Healthe Trim, in order to get on the road to a new me, Don’t believe me alone, read the other blogs as well!! It’s easy to gain weight, and want to be skinny!! In order for you to get fat, you made a decision in your lifestyle to disregard healthy eating habits. If you want to change & get skinny, you’ve got to “bite the bullet” at some point, and make a change in your lifestyle! Hey, I know there’s no sugar coating on this message, but sometimes we need to hear it straight!
Healthe Trim is a great tool to help you on your way to getting your life back!!!! You watch the Biggest Loser, you try all these diets for a few weeks, and they all inspire you for a bit. But you can’t get out of your “rut” & begin to lose the weight you’ve always wanted to lose. Listen to me!!!! That was me for so long!!!!! I know how you feel because I was there!! I know your excuses!! I know your doubts!!! Here’s something else that I’ve learned” IN ORDER FOR YOU TO MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU MUST MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFESTYLE!!!!
Here’s what Healthe Trim can do for you, it can help get you started and carry you down that road of change!!!!! It has Hoodia which curbs your appetite. It has green tea & other herbal ingredients that will give you an energy boost that you haven’t experienced in a very long time. It has ingredients that will increase your metabolism throughout the day, while you’re just sitting around doing your normal daily activities. It also has “crack” which will keep you coming back for more ;) THAT’s A JOKE!!! It does not contain crack or anything illegal.
Once you start losing weight, you’ll start to see your daily “world” in a whole new light. Can you imagine actually wanting to get on the scale in the morning? It happened to me! Can you imagine coming home from a long day, and still having the energy to do something with the kids, work on your yard, or just having energy left at all? It happened to me! Can you imagine the newfound respect that strangers give you because you don’t look like you actually care about your body? It happened to me!!!
No, Healthe Trim is not a “miracle pill” that’s going to make you lose weight just by breathing, but it is one, incredible tool to help those, from those that need to lose more than “just a few pounds” to those that want to shed just 5 or so pounds, get on their way to the life they’ve always wanted.
Remember, doing “the same” has taken you to where you are now, challenge yourself to change, and there is no time like the present in order to do so!!! GOOD LUCK!!!
April 5th, 2010 - Two months after taking Healthe Trim, I must say that I have become a believer!! I have lost 34 lbs to date, and I’m totally focused on making my goal of losing 50 lbs by the end of this contest!! I’ve noticed that the closer I get to my goal, the harder it is to lose the weight, but that’s a great thing, because it means I’ve lost a lot of the “excess & easy” weight already. I am starting to run everyday, and it’s not as easy as I remember it used to be, but I need to change up my plan a bit as I begin to focus on the end of the contest. Diet and drinking plenty of water are key with making Healthe Trim work efficiently. Adding exercise makes it work to its potential!
I can’t tell you how much it means to get “supportive” messages on facebook or via email from friends that I see all the time, but especially from those of you I haven’t seen or spoken to in a long time! Hearing from people from my past really helps to remind me of how this whole contest is being monitored by so many people in the Atlanta area, and not just those around me in my daily life now.
It’s easy to get wrapped up with the family and friends that we surround ourselves with today, and dismiss our contacts from years or ”lives” gone by as not having an influence on what made us who we are today. I appreciate the “random” contacts from those of you in my past, whether it is from elementary school to college, or anywhere in between then & now, and hope that you keep them coming as we enter the last month of this contest! One other thing your notes of encouragement help me to keep in mind, is that yes, I maybe the one losing weight, but there is more than one winner & purpose for my weight loss at the end of this event. It’s up to ME to stay focused, and not “slip up” and cause money to be left on the table for the kids of Bert’s Big Adventure. By you keeping in touch, it helps to keep me accountable.
This past weekend, my father and I were out at our farm, and I was telling him about how much newfound energy I had, and how great I was feeling since my weight loss, and he subsequently replied, “Great!! That means you can do more work on the farm!!” Lesson learned… Funny thing is, I was able to do more without tiring as quickly, and I wasn’t gasping for breath after certain jobs. One other victory is that instead of my dad eating his normal snacks of potato chips, he started eating some of my baby carrots & oranges that I had brought for my diet. It was an awesome moment for me knowing that I had had an influence on my own father through my actions and results. I hope and pray that he will continue to see the difference getting healthy has made in my life, and that he will start to take his own health seriously!!
Remember it takes more effort to make a change in your life, than it does to keep doing what you’ve always been doing!
March 29th, 2010 - This past week was a great week for me!! I was able to lose some more weight, and had a very successful hunting trip! I have been frustrated with how I haven’t seen a change in the past few weeks on my scales, and decided to do something about it. I got back on my meal schedule, and made sure I was incorporating my protein shakes two – three times a day. Once I arrived at my hunting camp/farm, I really was able to see the necessity in eating less but eating more often.
One of my best friends and I decided to go turkey hunting, and left Atlanta Tuesday night for our farm, called “Greene Acres”, in northern Hancock County, GA. He and I haven’t seen each other since I started this program, and he was really impressed with how much weight I’ve lost, and how much healthier I look because of it. We arrived at Greene Acres late that evening, and woke up very early on Wed morning in order to be in the woods before daybreak. I took my Healthe Trim that morning and had my protein shake for meal #1 before we left for the woods, and we headed out. It can be hard to stay awake, while at the same time being extremely still in the turkey blind, since you’re up hours earlier than your body is used to. Since I’ve been taking Healthe Trim, I haven’t noticed a time where I’ve been tired, or just the opposite, “jittery” with excess energy or nerves. After hunting about 4 hours, and hearing a few gobble but never seeing a turkey, we headed back to our cabin, and I noticed that my body was telling me it was time to eat again. We ate some smoked venison sausage & split a ham, egg, & cheese sandwich. One thing I’ve really begun to notice is how it doesn’t take much food to make me feel “full” again.
My friend had to leave to go back to Atlanta that afternoon, and I stayed on out at our farm. I had a successful hunt on Thursday morning, and got a 22lb turkey. He had a 9.25 inch beard, and 1 inch spurs. It was an awesome feeling and hunt to have called him away from his flock of hens. I came home Friday afternoon, and could tell that I had lost some weight while I was away at the farm. Saturday, our team met up at the gym & Donna D from Healthe Trim was there to weigh us. I got on the scales, and was shocked to see that I had lost a total of 32lbs!!!!! I was so excited that I got on the treadmill and ran a mile in under 8mins & 45 seconds. I haven’t run one that quick since PE in college!
I know that we are getting down to the last month of the challenge, and I still have a ways to go to reach my goal of 50 lbs lost. Due to these recent successes, I have a renewed energy, and dedication to meeting my goal. I am also so happy now that the weather is getting warmer, and plan on running my dog Zeus around Piedmont Park regularly. If you see a strawberry blonde haired guy running with a huge Red Doberman being drug around the park (by said Doberman), while yelling “Heel!! Zeus, heel!!”, don’t be afraid to give me a word of encouragement, I could probably use it at that point.
March 22, 2010 - “ ‘No change’ means something must!!!”
This week, I haven’t lost any weight, however, I haven’t gained any either. I am tired of telling people all I’ve lost is 22 lbs, and I really wish I could see the scale go down more. I know that something must change in my regimen in order to make something change on the scale. How many of you have dealt with something like this before?
I went over to my dad’s and mine hunting property this weekend for opening weekend of Turkey Season. While I was there, I really took notice in how hungry I was getting, and how eating just a small snack/meal could satisfy me for a few hours. I know that one of the key factors into losing the weight is to “eat often, but eat less”, and I really liked how my body is getting used to, and making me stick to that new regimen.
When you go to a hunting camp, you’re usually with a group of guys that aren’t exactly talking about “how to live longer through healthier eating habits”, or the “latest diet craze” that they saw on Oprah or Dr Oz, so it’s sometimes hard to maintain your eating habits and recommended foods. It’s so much easier to grab a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie and head out the door to the woods, than it is to take a minute, & prepare a few Ziploc bags of fruits and vegetables for a snack. I am happy to report that I went through the extra effort, and didn’t cheat on my diet at Greene Acres (that’s what I’ve named our hunting property) at all! In fact, this time, I even brought my big tub of GNC Protein Powder, and made shakes throughout the day. My dad was asking “What’s in that big tub?” I told him what it was, and he tried mine and liked it. I told him to feel free to make himself one, and he did. I even saw him drinking another one later on in the weekend.
Speaking of Ziploc bags and vegetables, that reminds me of something funny that happened to me this past week. I had some friends from high school & college going to the John Mayer concert this past Wednesday, and they had an extra ticket and took me along. As I was in line to go into Philips Arena, the security guy at the door was having everyone empty out their pockets before they went inside. I was catching up & chatting with a buddy of mine from high school while we were going through the line, and forgot to check my pockets. Once it was my turn, I had forgotten that I had a Ziploc bag of Baby Carrots in my pocket that I had been snacking on while driving over to Philips. When it was my turn at the door, I emptied my pockets and pulled out the halfway empty bag. The security guy looked at what was in the bag & started laughing!! He said that “normally we aren’t allowed to let you bring in food from the outside, but I’ve never had anyone try to sneak in a bag of carrots before!! That’s funny!! You can go ahead and keep them with you!!” My buddy and I got a good laugh out of that one! Oh, and you better believe that I finished them up while at the show.
I did get an “inside laugh” out of the reaction to the people immediately around me as they turned to see what was causing all that crunching noise in between the opening band & John Mayer.
I realize that this event is over halfway complete, and I am just a few pounds shy of halfway to my target weight loss. I really need to kick it into gear, and find other ways to change up my current plan of action. I know you can’t make a “change” in your life by continuing to do the same thing that you’re currently doing. Getting out of one’s comfort zone is sometimes one of the hardest things we can make ourselves do.
Trust me, I’m living proof!! I really would appreciate encouragement from everyone to inspire me to “get on my horse” and make these changes. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I really do appreciate your messages of support on facebook, and other words of encouragement!
March 15th, 2010 - This week has been a bit of a challenge as well. I’m sticking to the foods, and not “cheating” by eating anything not on my diet, but I’m not eating them when I should. I’m paying for it but not losing (but not gaining either) any weight. Still at a loss of 22lbs. However, I am starting to exercise more, and I enjoyed getting out some earlier last week (when the weather was nice) and creating a new walking regimen at Piedmont Park.
I went over to my hunting property this weekend to get things ready for opening day of Turkey Season next Saturday, and I was so thrilled with how much easier I could get up and down the steep hills. I really shocked
myself when I walked up one hill in particular, and was not winded.
Normally I would be literally gasping for breath, and in dire need of water. I was neither, and to be honest, I was proud of my progress. I received a phone call from Idella, one of the trainers at Forever Fit, and she really challenged me, and made me conscious of some of the bad habits that I was beginning to slip back into. She also reminded me of that we are only as successful as we allow ourselves to be, and that making changes in
one’s life really requires us to sometimes reach a bit further than we are comfortable reaching. Change isn’t easy, and it really requires us to begin to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone.
This week I will be pushing myself outside of that zone, and hope to see some good start happening again from it!
Mar 8th, 2010 - The Wall: This week has been a pretty stagnant week on the scales. Iím down 22 lbs from my start weight, but I canít get that number to move. Iíve seem to have hit a wall, but I think itís because of some bad habits that are doing their best to try and sneak back up on me. The main one of those habits is staying up late and snacking. I have been telling myself that itís okay to snack because Iím eating the ìhealthy sizedî bag of popcorn, or sunflower seeds, or more than one handful of almonds, but the scale every morning is telling me that itís not. I see that now, and hope to get back on a downward trend this week!
I enjoyed working out with those that showed up at the gym on Saturday, and beginning to like the feel of the burn in my muscles that I am experiencing afterwards. Thank you so much to Monique & Idella at Forever Fit in Buckhead for opening your facility to us, and also training us! Their efforts are greatly appreciated, and I love the way that they work with us, and not belittle us ìlarger folksî in the gym. They are great working with beginners, and itís a great place to go if you donít like the typical ìmeat head, beefcake gym atmosphereî that you see at a lot of gyms (you know what I mean, and yes I did just say that!)
With the weather improving, I hope to be hitting the trails at Piedmont Park more, and derailing the late night snacking. Each day requires a renewed level of mental toughness, and it seems like ìthe newnessî of this diet and adventure is wearing off. Iíve got to stay focused because itís not just for me, itís for the kids that will benefit from Bertís Big Adventure, and Iíve got to remember that. As always, please keep encouraging us!
Mar 1st, 2010 - WHAT A WEEK!!! I am so excited about all the changes in my body that I am seeing, and now, all the compliments I am receiving from my friends that haven’t seen me in a week or longer. It’s such a boost and reward for all the hard work I’m putting into this diet. I have lost a total of 21 lbs in just 26 days!!
It was about mid-week when I noticed how baggy my jeans were beginning to feel and look in the seat. I also noticed that I have to wear all my belts fastened at the tightest notch, and that hasn’t happened for some time! I was really excited when I went to get a new suit last week, and needed a size smaller than I have been wearing for some time now. That was a “reality check” for me, and I think has begun to inspire me even more.
I’ve noticed that I don’t have the cravings for salt as much as I did when I first started the diet, and that my body is getting used to the need to eat less but eat more often during the day. I am still learning what I can and can’t eat, and new options to some of my favorite dishes from the “old me”. I am excited about the fact that I am eating healthy, and I can look at some of the junk food commercials on TV, and see them for what they really are; JUNK!
I’ve watched family and friends take on “fad diets”, and shed pounds quickly only to gain them back, and then some, later. I’ve not been the best “supporter” of those when they are on a diet, and I feel bad about that now. I almost got a sense of satisfaction when I would see them “chunk back up” again, and would love to remind them that they gained all their weight back. Yeah, I was that guy! I think it’s only human nature to some degree. I wonder how many of you can relate to what I just said? With that in the back of my mind, it adds more pressure on me to stay on course, and prevent that from happening.
This whole experience is really changing my outlook on trying to encourage those that are trying to make a difference in his or her life. I can’t tell you how much receiving encouragement really affects me now, vs when I was receiving it at the beginning of the contest, just a few weeks ago. I have decided that this will be a PERMANENT lifestyle change for me, and I am excited about this, and want my friends and family to help keep me in check.
I really think that by taking Healthe Trim, it is giving me the tool to help my body feel energetic & full while I am changing my eating habits and the quality of food that I am putting into my system. I am thankful to Healthe Trim because, yes, it is a “crutch” to lean on for a bit, but I probably would have NEVER changed my eating habits without experiencing some sort of health crisis. Now I have the luxury of changing my dietary habits without the stress of a doctor telling me that I have to change or face the consequences of my lifelong eating habits.
This past Saturday, I met up with the contestants at the gym for my first workout in well over a year. As I am writing this, I am still sore. But in truth, I am enjoying the feeling because I know that it represents a positive change in my body. When I got home from the gym on Saturday, I was still feeling very energetic, and took my dog for a walk/run at Piedmont Park. I can’t tell you how great I felt about myself when I went out to dinner with a friend on Saturday night!
If you’re thinking about doing something like this, then don’t wait any longer!! There is no time like the present!!
Feb 22nd, 2010 - I am now in my 3rd week of taking Healthe Trim, and I am beginning to feel like I’m getting the hang of it. It has not been easy doing a 180 degree turn with my eating habits, but with the help of Healthe Trim, my lack of hunger has allowed me to focus on the quality of what I’m putting into my body vs the quantity. I haven’t been nearly as hungry as I was before I started it, and now I am getting used to my new diet. I am now down 14lbs from when I started, and looking forward to losing more!
I went out of town this past weekend, and was a little nervous about all the different temptations to stray from my diet that I might experience. It seems that when you do go out of town, you tend to eat out for almost every meal, and I was away from my kitchen which is now geared towards my diet. It really sucks watching the person next to you enjoy all the tasty, but unhealthy, food you used to eat, while you’re eating salad. One thing that has definitely helped me stay on course is the fact that if I do cheat on my diet, that I am not just hurting me, but that I am reducing the amount of money that can be raised for Bert’s Big Adventure. That alone puts enough pressure on me to prevent me from going astray.
Along with keeping my scale in front of my refrigerator, I have cut out pages of children’s stories, from the Bert’s Big Adventure Magazine, that went to Disney World with him and have now passed. I have taped those pages to my pantry in order to help remind me that I am not just doing this for my own good, but my not snacking is going to help other families get to make lifelong memories with their children. Talk about an inspiration to do the right thing!!!
I am feeling more alert and energetic since I’ve started with Healthe Trim, and I am excited about the changes that I am feeling & seeing in my body. I went to a job interview, and when I put on my suit, I was excited to see how loose it had become since the last time I put it on just two weeks ago. These changes in my clothes & body help me resist the temptation to fall victim to all the delicious restaurant ads I see on TV & billboards on the highway. You don’t realize just how many TV & billboard ads there are for restaurants until you go on a diet!! I still need encouraging words from my friends & family, so please don’t stop sending them!
Feb 15th, 2010 - I made it through another weekend without cheating on my diet!!! Thank God for small miracles, right? Usually my weekends include going out with my friends in Atlanta, and hitting the bars and restaurants. I usually will eat burgers, or something fried, and drink beer. I still went out, but I drank water & ate before I went out. I was able to make it the whole night without spending a dime, which is really good considering that I am still looking for a job! It was not an easy feat however; as friends offered to buy me something to eat & drink, but I remembered that I am not losing weight just for me, but for the kids in Bert’s Big Adventure.
I enjoy waking up every morning and getting on the scale to see if I’ve been able to make it drop any more lbs. I have been pleasantly surprised with the lack of hunger that I feel when I am on Healthe Trim. I sometimes have to make myself eat, because my brain is telling me that I am not hungry, but I know that I need something on my stomach. I am still in the process of regulating the amount of Healthe Trim that is best for me and my metabolism. I am still happy to report that I am not experiencing any severe side effects, from Healthe Trim, except for being thirstier than normal & finding it hard to fall asleep.
I have started to experiment with new recipes, and also find healthier ways to cook some of the dishes I’ve always prepared. I am very appreciative to my friends that have offered to share recipes and also assist me in my own personal nightmare, going to the grocery store. I will be taking you up on that very soon! I would like to take this moment to voice a complaint, why did all the pizza companies decide to drop their prices to $10.00 for any kind of pizza, any size right after I started my diet!!??? That’s crap!! For the past few months, I would order two large pizzas and could eat up to half of a pizza at a setting. That was my lunch and dinner plan, and would last me for about 3 days. Easy on the preparation & cleanup, but hard on the gut!!
Thankfully, those days are in my past, and I am learning the importance of not eating so much at one setting, as the importance of eating less food, but more often throughout the day. I am running the lights and sound for a sketch show at Relapse Theater with JackPie Improv Group, and I take my little cooler with yogurt, apples, oranges, & sometimes almonds up to the sound booth during our long practices. I have found that by having an apple, an orange, or cup of yogurt that my late night cravings are satisified, even after my Healthe Trim has worn off. That new knowledge to me is worth a ton!
I still need your support and encouragement during this time. I think the second and third weeks are the hardest time when trying to change bad habits. I am very thankful for the fact that I am losing weight for charity, because it really makes a difference in keeping me motivated and on track!
Feb 8th, 2010 - I have been pleasantly surprised with my results from taking Healthe Trim since I started taking it on Wed, Feb 3. I have already seen a difference in my weight on the scale, and I've also noticed how my pants are fitting looser. I've already had to cinch in my belt one hole tighter. For only having been taking Healthe Trim for a few days, I've got to say that I am very excited about what the future holds for me & my physical fitness. I'm even more excited about the opportunity to help raise money for Bert's Big Adventure with each pound I lose.
I was skeptical going into this program as to how this would make me feel physically while taking the product. At our Weigh-In at the station, I was listening to a couple of the other contestants that already had started taking Healthe Trim talk back and forth. I heard them say how much change in their energy levels & in their appetite they had already begun to feel, and even some complaining about their "Pants On The Ground"!! By the time I left the meeting where we not only heard, but also saw success stories, I was pumped even more about my chances for success with this program.
One concern that I didn't express at our meeting was how it would effect my sensitive stomach. I can thankfully say that it has not effected the way my stomach feels or my digestive system at all!! I am so pleased with that! I also was worried about if it would make me nervous or get agitated, as some of these diet supplements have been known to do. Again, I can say that it has had ZERO effect on my nervous system or personality.
What I do realize is that just taking Healthe Trim alone is not going to help me lose the 50 lbs I want to lose. That's where our Healthe Trim coaches and friends come in. I am finally listening to those around me that have encouraged me to "live healthy". My refrigerator probably thinks that someone else moved into my apartment. Instead of beer, cokes, the occasional leftovers, etc...it now contains fruits, vegetables, and even a jug of tomato juice! I understand that I need to make a "lifestyle change" along with taking Healthe Trim for me to lose the weight & keep it off. I've never been a huge coffee drinker, but I've always had to have a Diet Coke to get started in the mornings. Since coffee & cokes are on the "don't go there" list, I was really skeptical as to how I would be able to function in the mornings without my caffeine. I have honestly been shocked as to how fast my energy level picks up once I've taken my morning dose of Healthe Trim. One other benefit, I have yet to experience the "crashing" feeling that you get from caffeine once it starts to wear off. Healthe Trim has proven, so far, to provide a very static level of high energy. I'll begin to get hungry again before I start to get tired during the day.
Another thing that I have noticed since beginning to take Healthe Trim, is that I'm thirsty alot, and my body craves water. But really, that's a good thing!! How many times have you heard that water is necessary for our bodies to function properly, and that alot people fail on their diets because they don't drink enough water. For me, Healthe Trim has kicked in a "drink water now" mode in my brain, and I am keeping it flowing!! In fact, I know that I would annoy my "old self" by having to stop multiple times if the "New" me and the "Old" me went on a long road trip together. But that's okay, because I know that I am on the way to a better "New" me, and to get there, changes in my "Old" lifestyle have to be made.
When I got home from the Weigh-In at the radio station on Wednesday, I moved my scales in front of my refrigerator door to help "prevent" me from cheating. My scales aren't as nice as what Healthe Trim brought for us to use at Q100, but I wanted to use my scales to help monitor my progress at home, so I marked my beginning weight. Friday AM, I got on my scales, and they showed a difference of 7.5 lbs. I immediately got off, and hit the scales to see if they had become uncalibrated. Nope, the dial went back to straight-away Zero. I decided to re-calibrate them anyway, and got back on the scales. Again, it showed that I had lost 7.5 lbs!!!! I couldn't believe how I could have done that in just two days, but then I remembered it's more than just a pill I'm taking, it's a "lifestyle change" that I'm consciously making. Healthe Trim is providing me with an advantage by helping to curb my appetite while increasing my overall energy level. It's this help & advantage that is going to help me attain my goal, while at the same time, giving my body the time it needs to adjust to my new lifestyle. If this success continues, I might actually wind up going to the gym (that I've been paying for every month for the past two years) for the first time in a year & a half!!!
I want to say thank you to all of you who have been supportive of & encouraging me so far. I really appreciate your support & kind words. Since I live alone, it would be very easy to cheat, and get away with it. I appreciate my friends, Healthe Trim coaches, family, & you the listener remaining in the back of my mind, and knowing that if I cheat, I'm not only cheating myself, but I am cheating the kids that will benefit from Bert's Big Adventure! That takes the saying "Stealing candy from a baby" to a whole new level!! Again, thanks for taking the time to read this, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to take part in such a wonderful cause!!
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